Torn

I will write some follow ups to this soon, but I wanted to get something out now.

Last night two presbyteries voted to ratify amendment 10a. (I'll give the new and old wording later, but you can find it by doing a quick search for Amendment 10a).  This gives those in favor of the amendment for new ordination standards the majority or our 173 presbyteries (USA). 

All I can write at this moment is that my heart is broken because I think this is going to rip our denomination apart.


I would like us all to take a moment and pray:

for peace to move in our midst
for rhetoric to move towards honest and Christ-centered conversation
for all of us to be moved by the Spirit
for the Word of God to be the loudest and clearest Voice
for Christ to be glorified
for us as a community to not forget the mission that we've been given
for grace, forgiveness, and love to be what moves us to act (in Christ) and to wait (in Christ)


May the God of all creation be our Guide in these times...

peace,

matt

apologies and ideas

so i owe you all an apology for the lack of posts over the last few weeks...

may the next weeks be fuller.

Just got done with the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday gatherings...

both we times that I believe God spoke. Not only did we hear the story of Jesus Christ, but the Spirit was there confirming it in our hearts. I was blessed and I hope many of you were as well.

It's such a good thing to gather during such special times, I wander if we ought to have more special times; we ought to be a people celebrating the absolutely off the wall life that we've been given. Maybe that should be one of our goals for after Easter. We spend so much time getting there, but not much time preparing for life after the resurrection. I found a band in college called the Alter Boys check 'em out, they're awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYWBvydSxYM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Anyway, the above song talks about life beginning at the cross...there's a lot to that. Life, real life, abundant, mischevios, holy, consuming life happens when we encounter the LIVING God. This is a big deal.

So what are we gonna do come Monday? You tell me. I'll through up some ideas and I'll add anything that you all send to the discussion. Let's make this a habit of finding new ways to live out the life that we've been given.

may the rest of this blessed week be amazing for you all...may God rock you...may you never be the same...Amen

Sickness as a Gift?!

So the quick recap is this.  Since the beginning of February everyone in my immediate family has gotten one or several bouts of sickness...ear infections, sinus stuff, chest colds, and da da da da pneumonia.  I can't seem to help turning to complaining.  I sick and tired, and I don't wanna be anymore...

problem is, that I have been telling my community that we should use our everyday ordinary happenings...that we should look for the simple, the sacrificial, the sacramental in everything...


so to take my own prescription for transformation...

I can be reminded that with every wipe of every nose, I get the privilege of care for my children...
I can pick up tissue without complaint because in some very small way, it is unselfish and unselfish is like Jesus...
I can remember that Jesus is the great Healer when I give the antibiotics to my little ones...
And maybe being sick can be a gift to remind me that this world is not done being redeemed yet, and that every time I sniffle or sneeze, I can pray and work for that Kingdom to be revealed more fully...

may you be blessed even if your sick like the habermans

shalom,
matt

Lenten Thoughts 1

So our community is walking through Lent this year by following the idea that God gives us grace to cooperate with the transformation that He desires for us.  This has been something that has found its way into my body, mind and soul.  I've been wrestling with it for several years now, and I am finally starting to get it...a bit...sort of. 

So here's how I've been trying to cooperate:

Week 1: The Body

Ashes

Prayer of anticipation

Breathing the Breath of God

Tuning my senses to sing His grace

Week 2: The Body

Give it away

Build something for someone else

Don't change your clothes

Invite someone to your table

I'm gonna take some individual posts to flesh these out and give a bit of my experience with these practices.  I hope and pray that you have taken, are taking, and will take the opportunity to live into the grace that God is bestowing on all of us. May these things help you look my like Jesus.

shalom,

matt

going live

so i figure it's probably time to put some thoughts out there and solicit some response in regards to what the future looks like for those who are trying to make their life around and in and through the way of Jesus...

now there's a mouthful, huh?  

welcome in...I'll set up some ground rules later.  but taking the initiative is the hardest part for me, so I felt like getting the first post up, without too much fanfare.

peace,

matt